Terminal apparatus and control method for assistive cooking

Abstract

A information processor of a terminal apparatus reads from a memory identification information of a food handling apparatus and a table, identifies a function associated with the identification information of the food handling apparatus received by a information receiver in accordance with the table, and starts up the function.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A terminal apparatus in communication with a food handling apparatus that keeps in storage or that cooks food, the terminal apparatus comprising:
 a memory that stores a table that associates identification information of the food handling apparatus with device information indicating a device included in the terminal apparatus, the device being capable of acquiring food information related to the food; 
 an information receiver that receives the identification information of the food handling apparatus transmitted from the food handling apparatus if a predetermined change is detected in the food handling apparatus; and 
 an information processor that causes the memory to store the identification information of the food handling apparatus received by the information receiver, 
 wherein the information processor reads from the memory the identification information of the food handling apparatus and the table, identifies the device included in the terminal apparatus and indicated by the device information associated with the identification information of the food handling apparatus received by the information receiver in accordance with the table, and causes the identified device to acquire the food information. 
 
     
     
       2. The terminal apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is a barcode reader, a camera, or a microphone. 
     
     
       3. A terminal apparatus in communication with a first server apparatus, the terminal apparatus comprising:
 an information receiver that receives startup information transmitted from the first server apparatus, the startup information indicating a function of the terminal apparatus to be started up, the first server apparatus storing a table that associates identification information of a food handling apparatus with a function to be started by a terminal apparatus, the food handling apparatus for keeping in storage or cooking food; and 
 an information processor that causes a memory to store the startup information received by the information receiver, 
 wherein the information processor reads the startup information from the memory, and starts up the function in accordance with the startup information, 
 wherein the startup information is generated, by the first server apparatus, as information causing the information processor of the terminal apparatus to execute starting up the function, and 
 wherein the function to be started up in the terminal apparatus is identified by the first server apparatus, the identified function is associated with the identification information, in the table, which corresponds to identification information transmitted from the food handling apparatus to the first server apparatus if a predetermined change is detected in the food handling apparatus. 
 
     
     
       4. The terminal apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the function to be started up in the terminal apparatus includes a function to acquire food information related to the food. 
     
     
       5. The terminal apparatus according  claim 4 , further comprising an information transmitter that transmits to the first server apparatus the food information acquired through the function,
 wherein the first server apparatus uses the food information to identify control information to control an operation of the food handling apparatus, and 
 wherein the first server apparatus transmits the control information via the terminal apparatus or directly to the food handling apparatus. 
 
     
     
       6. The terminal apparatus according  claim 4 , further comprising an information transmitter that transmits to a second server apparatus the food information acquired through the function,
 wherein the second server apparatus uses the food information to identify control information to control an operation of the food handling apparatus, and 
 wherein the second server apparatus transmits the control information via the terminal apparatus or directly to the food handling apparatus. 
 
     
     
       7. A control method of a terminal apparatus communicating with a food handling apparatus that keeps in storage or that cooks food, the control method comprising:
 storing in a memory in the terminal apparatus a table that associates identification information of the food handling apparatus with device information indicating a device included in the terminal apparatus, the device being capable of acquiring food information related to the food; 
 receiving the identification information of the food handling apparatus transmitted from the food handling apparatus if a predetermined change is detected in the food handling apparatus; 
 causing the memory to store the received identification information of the food handling apparatus; 
 reading from the memory the identification information of the food handling apparatus and the table; 
 identifying the device included in the terminal apparatus and indicated by the device information associated with the received identification information of the food handling apparatus in accordance with the table; and 
 causing the identified device to acquire the food information. 
 
     
     
       8. A control method used in a terminal apparatus in communication with a first server apparatus, the control method comprising:
 receiving startup information transmitted from the first server apparatus, the startup information indicating a function of the terminal apparatus to be started up, the first server apparatus storing a table that associates identification information of a food handling apparatus with a function to be started by a terminal apparatus, the food handling apparatus for keeping in storage or cooking food; 
 storing, in a memory, the startup information received by the receiving; and 
 reading the startup information from the memory, and starting up the function in accordance with the startup information, 
 wherein the startup information is generated, by the first server apparatus, as information causing a processor of the terminal apparatus to execute starting up the function, and 
 wherein the function to be started up in the terminal apparatus is identified by the first server apparatus, the identified function is associated with the identification information, in the table, which corresponds to identification information transmitted from the food handling apparatus to the first server apparatus if a predetermined change is detected in the food handling apparatus.